Nerds, make it so!

Nerd Destinations

We rounded up the best of the best Nerd destinations. Pause Star Wars, put your chocolate milk down, and stop reminiscing about the last time you totally corrected someone that didn’t know what they were talking about — and plan your next vacation RIGHT NOW.

1) Middle Earth

Hop a flight to New Zealand. Say hello to Xena the Warrior Princess while you’re there. Then saddle up on a horse and head to Matamata in New Zealand’s Waikato district (that’s still how they get around in New Zealand, right?) Once you’re there, be the first person to ask a local if they’ve seen Gandalf recently. That one is sure to kill!

2) The Great Hall (Hogwarts Hall)

On your way back from Middle Earth, pop into Christ Church, Oxford and see the hall where Harry and his pals hatched plans to defeat He Who Must Not Be Named. You know, Voldemort. This church/college was established in 1546 and is steeped in old world tradition. Sounds like a good thing right? Well – the tradition was so strong that women could not attend the college until 1978! Hermione scoffs!

3) District 12

So, the enchanting setting of Middle Earth is in New Zealand. The architectural marvel that doubled as the Great Hall is in Oxford. What does the good old U.S.A. get? District 12. Yup. When the Hunger Games needed to bring to life a location that was basically barely passable as being suitable for human habitation, they didn’t even have to get on a plane. Henry River Mill Village in North Carolina fit the bill pretty much as is. Over the years this town was destroyed by floods, a depression, fires, and more. Every time it tried to eek back into existence, it was wrestled back down. Apparently the odds just weren’t ever in its favor.

4) Luke Skywalker’s home on Tatooine

Ok, let’s make this trip simple:

Step 1) Go to Tunisia.

Step 2) Locate the Sidi Driss Hotel in Matmata.

Step 3) Have someone take a picture of you staring thoughtfully into the sky (get both suns in the picture if you can.)

Step 4) Leave Tunisia.

5) Nintendo World Store

Ok – we deviated from the movie settings for this last one – but it HAS to be on the list. You can think whatever you want about Nintendo now, but the reality is, they created an industry. Some of the most recognizable characters in history are Nintendo characters. Not video game history. ALL history. It’s of course located in Rockefeller Center in New York – where else!? Ok, maybe Japan would have made sense. But other than Japan, where else!?

10,000 Square feet of games, merchandise, and most importantly – tons of people Nerding just as hard as you about all that stuff! Make the trek. This one is too good to miss.

Sorry – did you say something? Oh, how did we leave that one out? Well you see, the list is 5 places long and the place you just mentioned was actually #6. Tell us about it in the comments though!